#6279 carbuncle garnets
Garnets are the birthstone of January. We normally associate them with a deep red colour, but they also come in greens, yellows, orange, pinks and purples. But, mostly reds.
These gems were very popular during the Georgian and Victorian eras. The Georgians, about 200 years ago, would cut them flat and wear them tightly wound around their necks, sometimes paired with pearls. The Victorians on the other hand, loved nothing more than a big, fat red garnet, cabochon cut (like a hill, without sharp facets) and they called these stones carbuncles.
Much cheaper garnet jewelry became popular, set in silver or low grade gold, in Bohemia, what is now known as the Czech Republic around the end of the 1800's and early 20th century. This gave garnets a bad rap and for a while, they were regarded as cheap, undesireable gems. Today, we know to look at each item on it's own merit and recognise that a beautiful stone is a beautiful stone.
For a number of years, garnets were a little under-rated and therefore undervalued. This has all changed, especially with the demand for the rare colors and recognition that fine workmanship is what counts, regardless of the gem used.
#6580 flat cut Georgian garnets
Over the generations, garnets were associated with many qualities:
Strength, prosperity, awareness, perseverance, regeneration, insight, and commitment are qualities associated with garnets - all good things to have as you travel through life’s ups and downs. Wearing the garnet can enhance and encourage those properties in the wearer. Physically, the heart, blood and lungs are said to benefit from garnets.
Although garnet is both the modern and traditional birthstone for January, the mystical birthstone for this month is emerald and rose quartz has been used in other cultures. We should also remember that in the past, technology to differentiate between gems was lacking. Therefore, many red gems were lumped together as the same thing, being ruby, garnet, spinel, tourmaline or other. Since gems go into and out of fashion, is it really important?
Demantoid garnet earrings:#6774
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